Water distributor



Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE WATER DISTRIBUTOR'V William H. Gard, Loveland, Colo. Applica-tion July 31, 1933, seria No. 683,084

c claims. (ci. syl-2s) This invention relatesto irrigating systems and has for its object the provision of means whereby the water flowing from a main ditch into laterals may be accurately divided between the laterals in the proportions desired. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for` the stated purpose which may be secured against tampering and which may be easily adjusted and will be secured in the adjusted position. The invention is illlustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the description. yIn the drawing,

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a dividing box showing the arrangement of ythe main ditch and two laterale controlled by my improved distributing mechanism,

Figure 2 is a transverse section through an apparatus embodying the invention, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a section on-the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In providing means for the distribution of water from a main irrigating'ditch to laterale, it is customary to provide a box 1 at the junction of the main ditch and the laterals, which box' may be constructed of any suitable material and includes a bottom and sides, the ends being open to permit free flow of the water and the upper edges of the sides being connected by cross bars or boards 2 which may be arranged in-any desired number to provide sullicient bracing for the side `walls and furnish guides for the gate.` It is also customary to provide within the box l a transverse checkboard or dam 3 which arrests the flow of water from the main ditch until the water has risen to a level at which it will overflow they checkboard, a partition 4 being disposed at the lateral sideof the checkboard and extending therefrom so that ordinarily the water will be divided equally between the two laterals.

In carrying out my invention, I secure cross bars 5 to the under side of the top 2 of the dividing box and these bars are spaced apart somewhat and are arranged parallel, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, whereby they will constitute guides for the gate 6, it being noted that the boards 2 are so arranged as to provide an open- 50 ing above the guide bars 5, as shown at 7. Slidably mounted upon the upper edge of the checkboard 3 is the gate 6 which is preferably of the same thickness as the checkboard, as clearly shown inl Figure 3, whereby it will be firmly supported, and the upper edge of the gate extends into the space between the guide bars 5 so that the gate willbe guided in its -movement by said bars, it being understood that these guide bars are parallel with the checkboard 3. To aid in supporting and guiding the gate,'clips 8 are secured upon the checkboard at the side presented to the main ditch, and to the gate is secured a metal plate 9 the edge of which projects below the edge of the gate and is adapted to seat in the upper ends -of they clips, as clearly shown in Figure 3. A similar plate 10 is secured upon theside of the gate and projects above the upper edge thereof so as to extend through the space between the guide bars 5 and into the space 7 in the top, the upper edge of this plate 10 being formed with spaced notches 11, as shown in Figure 2. Upon the top 2 ofthe. dividing box is arranged a rectangular frame 12 which is hinged at one side to the top 2, as shown at 13, and journaled in the ends of this frame is a threaded rod or screw 14 which is held against endwise movement by stop collars 15 secured on the rod and bearing against the outer sides of the ends of the frame. At one end of the screw is a hand wheel or crank 16 whereby the screw may be rotated when desired. Engaged with' the screw and disposed within the frame 12 to be guided by the sides of the same is a block or nut 17 which will obviously be caused to move endwise of the frame when the screw is rotated. On the underside of this block or nut is a lip 18 which is adapted to llt Within any one of the notches 11 in the plate 10, as will be understood upon reference to Figure 2. A cover 19 is hinged at one side upon the top 2 of the dividing box, as shown at 20, and at the opposite side, the cover carries a clip or shackle 21 which is engageable through a. slotted hasp 22 to receive a padlock or other lock 23 whereby thev cover will be secured in position over the frame 12 and the sliding block or nut 17.

The length of the gate 6 is equal to one-half the total width of the box plus the thickness of the partitiomsov that in closed position it. will entirely cover the end of the partition and one lateral or the space between the central partition 4 and one side of the box, while the space at the other side of the partition will be entirely open and therefore a full flow of water may be admitted to one lateral while no water will be admitted to the other lateral. The instant'the gate leaves the side wall of the closed lateral, it will begin to shut off the open lateral. If the gate be set so that its central vertical line will correspond exactly with the central vertical line o-f the dividing box and the partition 4, the water flowing from the main ditch will be divided equally between the two laterals and obviously the gate may be adjusted so that the water may be directed into the laterals in any desired proportion. To set the gate, the lock 23, of course, must be first opened and removed after which the cover 19 may be swung from over the frame 12. The block 17 may then be adjusted by rotating the screw 14 and the movement of the block will effect a corresponding movement of the gate through the engagement ofthe lip 18 in a notch 11, and, to secure accuracy in the adjustment, the upper edges of the sides of the frame 12 and the top of the block or nut 17 may be inscribed with suitable graduations. If it be desired to effect a more rapid setting of the gate, the frame 12 may be swung from over the gate about the hinges 13 and the gate then manually slid along the checkboard 3 until it is approximately in the position desired. The frame 12 may then be restored to its normal position with the lip 18 on the nut 1'7 engaging in one ofthe notches 11 after which the screw may be rotatedso as to effect a final accurate setting of the gate.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple device whereby the water may be accurately divided between two laterals in any desired proportions and it may 'beiunderstood that while I have shown the device applied to two laterals it may be duplicated to any desired extent so as to control the flow into any vnumber of laterals, the only essential being thatthe device be located at the junction of the laterals with the main ditch. A portion of the gate in all positions will bear against the endf of the partition 4 although when the gate is set to entirely cut off the ow'to one lateral, only an edgeportion thereof will be against the end ofthe partition, but the pressure of the inflowing wateragainst the gateand the arrangement of the lower edge of the plate 9 and the upper edge of the plate 10 will'maintain the gate in its upright position and ,will assist in guiding it duringits-sliding movements, it being noted thatthe upper edge of the gate will be disposed between the guide bars 5 so that said bars will aid effectually in.v maintaining the gate upright. The provision of the sliding nut or block with its depending lip insures accuracy in the setting of the gate and also guards against any tampering with the gate after it'has been set and the provision of the lock cover 19 eilectually resists efforts to setthe gate by unauthorized persons.

- vHaving thus described the invention, I claim: i 1. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a dividing box, a transverse checkboard therein, a partition at the rear side of the checkboard, a gate slidably resting on the upper edge of the checkboard, and guides for said gate in the dividing box. 2.k Anapparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a dividing box, a transverse checkboard therein, a partition at the rear side of the checkboard, a gate slidably resting on the upper edge of the checkboard and movable thereon across the end of the partition, and means mounted on the box and engaging the upper part of the gate for maintaining the gate in a set position.

3. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a dividing box having an opening in its top, guide bars secured on the underside of the top in parallel spaced relation immediately below said opening, a transverse checkboard on the bottom of the box, a partition at the rear side of the checkboard, a gate slidably mounted on the upper edge of the checkboard and having its upper edge disposed between the guide bars, and means for holding the gate in a set position.

4. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a dividing box having an opening in its top, guide bars secured to the top of the box in parallel spaced relation immediately below said opening, a transverse checkboard in the bottom of the box, a partition at the rear side of the checkboard, cleats on the front side of said checkboard adjacent the upper edge thereof, a gate slidably resting on the upper edge of the checkboard and having its upper edge disposed between the guide bars, a guide plate secured on said gate and projecting below the same to engage the cleats on the checkboard, and means operating upon the top of the gate to hold the same in a set position.

5. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a dividing box having a transverse checkboard on its bottom and a central partition extending rearwardly from the checkboard, guide bars on the top of the box in parallel spaced relation immediately below an opening in the top of the box, a gate slidably resting on the upper edge of the checkboard and movableacross the end of the partition, `the upper edge of the gate being disposed between the guide bars, a plate secured to the gate and projecting above the upper edge thereof and having its upper edge formed with a series of notches, a frame on the top of the box, a block slidably mounted in said frame, and a lip on lthe bottom of the block engaging one of the notches in the last-mentioned plate.

6. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a dividing box having a transverse checkboard in its bottom, a central partition at the rear of the checkboard, guide bars secured at the top of the box in parallel spaced relation, a gate slidably resting on the upper edge of the checkboard with its upper edge disposed between the guide bars, a notched plate projecting upwardly from the gate, a frame hinged upon the top of the box, a screw journaled in the ends of said frame, a nut tted upon said screw within the frame and slidably engaging the sides of the frame to be guided thereby, and a lip depending from said nut to engage the notched plate.

WILLIAM H. GARD. [L.S.] 

